The first step to attaining wisdom is to understand why special "programming wisdom" is needed in the first place. It's easy to get the idea that software is easy to create, because it is partially true. Computers get more powerful every year, and we trade in on that power to make programming easier. Every year results in more and better libraries. Changing software is very easy, and it's relatively easy to test compared to an equivalently-complex real-world object.

Expanding on my quote by John Stossel: I know a lot of people accuse the Bush Administration of trying to build up fear and then take advantage of it. The latter point is partially true, but the more I think about it, the more clear it is that the fear is almost entirely a media construct. The proof is that fear of (direct) terrorism is only one particular example of a pattern of over-blown media-induced fears, including death by plane, gun violence (for most people), and child kidnapping.

So take our reporting with heavy skepticism. Ignore us when we hyperventilate about mad cow disease and the danger of asbestos hidden behind a wall. Instead, worry about what's worth worrying about: driving, acting reckless, smoking cigarettes, drinking too much, and eating too much. "What is your blood pressure, what are you eating; are you exercising?" is what patients should think about, says internist Marc Siegel. "But obesity is boring.

I've been saying it a lot lately, and I'll probably say it some more. Actions speak louder than words. I won't try to specifically interpret that into this case because that'd probably just trip your finely-honed political BS filters. So I'll just say, over the next few days as Iran cranks the pressure up a notch, watch the actions. Ignore the words. Well, I will say this: Since the soldiers were kidnapped, not much has happened on the action front, except for some humiliating videos being released which probably don't count for much action.

Logic is a little tweeting bird chirping in a meadow. Logic is a wreath of pretty flowers which smell bad. Are you sure your circuits are functioning correctly? Your ears are green.

I think in the end this British sailor kidnapping will prove to have been a big mistake by Iran. In the short term, their goal of embarrassing Britain may have worked, thanks to the eager greediness of our news media for bad news and their anxiousness to toss barbs at Blair (and indirectly at Bush). Mission accomplished. However, after that, I'm just not seeing a good move for Iran. They can't just hand these guys back.

The observation that the internet breeds impoliteness is an old one, and I don't intend to repeat it. I would just like to point out that there is something concrete you can do, which I'm trying to do more often. Most people don't make death threats, but I feel pretty comfortable saying that most people's contribution to the Internet is a net negative for civility. We tend to post only to point out errors, to "

Every once in a while something so very iRight-y comes along I just have to post it: DMCA author says DMCA is a failure. The biggest problem it had was attempting to legislate technology, rather than people.

This is the first post of my new BlogBook, Programming Wisdom.

This initial post starts off by discussing exactly what I mean by "wisdom" in the context of programming. Non-programmers may still be interested as it is more about wisdom than programming.

Some people have observed that Iran's seizure of British soldiers would at most points in history be considered casus belli, and perhaps at least lead to naval blockade. While I don't entirely disagree with the idea that some people consider what I would call cowardice a virtue, I don't think it completely explains the blasé attitude this is meeting with. I think there's a strong non-political component to it as well.